Fri Aug 03 06:20:00 EAT 2018

Cranes coach laughs off relegation threat

Duncan is confident in his team’s abilities. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO

By Deus Bugembe

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KAMPALA- Rugby Cranes’ Africa Gold Cup campaign has definitely not gone to plan. Two losses in as many games ,against Namibia (55-6) and Kenya (38-22). The results have left Uganda rock bottom on the log, ringing relegation alarms from onlookers.

To the ears of Cranes coach John Duncan, relegation talk is coming from those who have not been realistic and that no soul in the Cranes camp is worried about ending up playing in the Silver Cup next year.

“Relegation? Nobody is worried about that. We have so far played the two best sides (Namibia and Kenya) in the competition away from home. We still have three games at home and the boys enjoy playing here, anyone talking about relegation is not being realistic,” Duncan told Daily Monitor.

A close look at Namibia and Kenya’s records show the former has not lost a game to African opposition at home in ages while the latter too possesses an admirable record, shading more light into Duncan’s school of thought. Uganda can now avert relegation talk when they host Tunisia tomorrow, a side they beat 78-17 last year, by replicating the feat.

Team Manager Robert Omona also unveiled tomorrow’s squad with some notable changes. Ivan Magomu gets the boot to accommodate Robert Masendi at fly half, the development allegedly arose after the selectors learning of Magomu’s involvement in the National Sevens Series for his club Pirates, last Saturday. Seven players from the Rugby Sevens World Cup have also been named for the test.